Joyeux Noel By Ondine

Joyeux Noël

Christmas in France

By Ondine

Children in northern and eastern France are lucky, because they start Christmas celebrations on 5 December, St Nicolas' Eve. Before they go to bed, the children put their shoes in front of the fireplace and sing songs to the saint, who was the original Father Christmas. During the night while all sleep, Saint-Nicolas arrives on a donkey and fills their shoes with goodies. (Sweets. Lots and lots of sweets). Naughty children receive twigs tied up with ribbon, which I think would be rather nice to hang on your Christmas tree, le sapin de Noël.

From St Nicolas' Eve on 5 December to 8 December, a feast of the Virgin, people in the city of Lyon enjoy another celebration, the Festival of Lights, La Fête des Lumierès. Everyone places candles on their windowsills, and buildings are lit up with beautiful coloured lights and the streets with illuminations.

People from Provence in the south of France love to decorate their homes with a crib, la crèche. These include pretty scenes outside the stable, representing French village life. As well as a butcher, baker and laundry woman there will be le Ravi, the delighted one, who raises his arms in happiness to see the Baby Jesus. Just as in England, the figure of Jesus is added on Christmas Day and the Three Kings on the night of 5 January, ready for the Epiphany next day. Nativity scenes are left on display till 2 February, Candlemas, which used to mark the end of Christmas, after 40 days. This tradition also used to be marked in England in the past.

On Christmas Eve, people go to Midnight Mass, and afterwards, because the French love to cook, they have a special meal, le réveillon de Noël. This includes oysters, caviar, duck or goose, green beans, cheese and lots of champagne. For dessert, there is a chocolate log or la bûche de Noël. Délicieux!

On Christmas morning, when the children wake up, Father Christmas, Père Noël, has left them yet more presents, in their shoes and around the Christmas tree.

There is more cake to come, for the celebration of the Three Kings arriving to see Baby Jesus on 6 January, the feast of the Epiphany, l'Epiphanie. The kings' cake, la galette de Roi, is made of puff pastry and marzipan and served warm. It has a trinket hidden inside and a crown placed on top. The tradition is that a child hides under the table and calls out the name of the next guest to be served a slice of cake. When all are served, it is discovered who has the lucky trinket, that person is crowned king, le roi, or queen, la reine, and wears the crown.

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!